Nigel Farage has little to fear from current tactics (Image: Getty)
As Reform ends 2025 roughly ten points ahead of Labour in national polls, it seems every stop is now being pulled out to smear Nigel Farage. First, we have allegations of racist language from nearly fifty years ago. Funny that what other politicians purportedly said back in 1977 isn’t being dragged up today. Are we supposed to believe Sir Keir and co never said anything dodgy at the tuck shop? Come on!
As for the timing: are we supposed to believe these allegations – first whispered in 2013 – coincidentally get dragged up just when Farage is on course to become PM? Do us a favour! That’s not all. Just when Reform was on course to repeat its success in Lincolnshire, and win mayoralties in Norfolk and Suffolk, and Essex next May, Labour postpones the votes by two years.
Sure, another coincidence! Like Labour didn’t know yonks ago that ‘local government needed reorganising’ before these elections take place.
You don’t think that Labour – having realised Reform is set to do extraordinarily well in next May’s local election – decided to block democracy in order to save its own skin? Surely not! The son of a toolmaker would never do that.
Moreover, you don’t think – having seen Labour’s illegal immigration reforms barely made a dent in the polls – that Labour high command started to freak out and resort to desperate measures to stymie Reform?
Note as well the breathless talk about the Kemi comeback following Labour’s big spender Budget. How much did outsized media coverage for the Tories help Badenoch and co? Hmm, about 1-2%!
Expect to see plenty more desperate allegations in the coming weeks, months and years leading up to polling day.
The Establishment needs to face the fact Reform is ahead because the Tories screwed up everything from immigration to the economy, while Labour is attempting to outdo the Conservatives in the failure stakes.
Yes, Reform needs to get its poll numbers nearer 40% rather than 30% to feel truly confident of outright victory.
Yes, Reform needs more policy developments and more of a top team fleshed out by 2029.
But this is the point: the election is – as things stand – over three years away. Time is on Reform’s side and, with it, momentum.
Accusations, allegations and democracy denial is not going to derail the Reform train. If Labour and the Conservatives want to beat Farage, then offer the public something better.
Until then, own the failure!
